What Do Turtles Eat? How Often Should They Be Fed?

Feeding turtles is a common concern for many people. When it comes to feeding, the two most frequently asked questions are what to feed and how much to feed.

First, let’s discuss what to feed turtles?

In general, aquatic turtles we keep are mainly fed with turtle pellets as the staple food, with fish and shrimp as supplements. For those who want to enhance their color, they can also be fed with color-enhancing pellets. Special turtles, such as the Flameback Turtle, prefer vegetarian food. Feeding them with some sweet potato leaves should suffice. The diet is essentially the same.

How often and how much should turtles be fed?

This is a common question among many beginners. Some turtles are fed very meticulously, with a quantified diet, such as how many pellets a turtle should eat in a day, and how many dried shrimp. The data is very detailed. Before feeding the turtle, people count the pellets one by one, and after counting for a long time, the turtle has already starved to death. Of course, this is a joke. Turtles are not so easy to starve.

The most common feeding method is to use the size of the turtle’s head as a reference. Feed the corresponding amount of turtle pellets. Personally, I think it’s unnecessary to quantify the feeding because each turtle’s size, appetite, and even the breeding environment and climate temperature are different, and even each turtle’s mood changes every day. It’s impossible to make a standardized quantification of feeding.

For example, if I ask you how much food should you eat every day? Today, I’m quite hungry, so I ate three bowls of rice. Tomorrow, I’m not feeling well, so I’ll have a bowl of noodles. The day after tomorrow, I’ll have some pork stew and drink two more bowls of soup. The day after that, it’s the weekend, and I’m going out for hot pot, which is especially enjoyable. Our daily diet cannot be fixed, let alone for turtles.

My daily method of feeding turtles is relatively simple. For new turtles, start by scattering a handful of turtle pellets, and it’s best if they finish them within five minutes. When the turtle is full, it will stop eating. Feed them for two consecutive days, and you’ll roughly know the turtle’s appetite. From then on, let them eat about seventy percent full. It’s not recommended to feed them too much, as it’s a burden on the turtle’s digestive system.

The water temperature around twenty-eight degrees Celsius allows for a daily feeding, while around twenty-five degrees, feeding should be done every two days. Turtle hatchlings can be fed smaller amounts more frequently, twice a day, and if the temperature is lower, they should not be fed. I basically use this relatively conservative feeding method. My turtles have never been overfed because I believe it’s more important for them to eat well than to eat their fill.

In summary, feeding turtles requires mastering temperature changes. At the right temperature, feed them a balanced diet of turtle pellets and fish or shrimp to ensure nutritional balance. On the basis of a normal diet, feed them a little less. Eating about seventy percent full is healthier for turtles, and you don’t have to worry about indigestion due to overeating. It’s also possible to control their growth rate and raise more beautiful turtles.

Well, that’s all for today. If you find it helpful, welcome to like, follow, and share. See you next time, goodbye.